When a little stray puppy was brought into a shelter in Los Angeles, California, the staff was taken aback by her appearance. The pup was nearly hairless, and they couldn’t determine the reason why.
The staff suspected her baldness might be due to mange, scabies, or allergies.
Unfortunately, the shelter lacked the funds for comprehensive tests on the small stray, leaving them uncertain about how to treat her.
The forlorn pup, later named Blossom, remained in her kennel, plagued by discomfort and itchiness. Yet, despite her dire situation, Blossom held onto hope that someone would come to her rescue.
A Kindhearted Human Steps In
At that time, Gretchen May, a devoted dog lover, was looking to adopt another pup.
While browsing through shelter websites one day, she stumbled upon a post showcasing a small bald dog with wrinkled skin.
Upon seeing the sorrow in the dog’s gentle eyes, May felt an irresistible pull towards her. Her heart whispered that this was the pup she had been searching for.
“She looked so pitiful in the shelter photograph, yet so endearing at the same time. I felt such compassion for her, as she sat in the shelter, untreated and held as a stray for seven days! I really wondered who would be brave enough to take a chance on such an unknown situation,” May explained to The Dodo.
She reached out to Precious Pals Pet Rescue, sharing Blossom’s story and expressing her desire to adopt the precious pup, asking if they could rescue her from the shelter.
Upon seeing the little bald dog, the rescue team immediately fell in love. They quickly agreed to assist her.
Blossom Finds Safety in Her Mom’s Embrace
The rescuers brought Blossom to the vet for a thorough examination.
She was diagnosed with kennel cough, an upper respiratory infection, an ear infection, and had several wounds on her body. The vet proceeded with skin scrapes to understand the cause of her hair loss.
It was heart-wrenching for the rescue team to see how much Blossom had been neglected.
“Her skin shows years of neglect and her eyes indicate mild cataracts from all the time spent outside in intense sunlight here in Southern California. We can’t wait to help her get better,” Precious Pals Pet Rescue shared on Facebook.
After staying overnight at the vet, Blossom was welcomed into her forever home.
While Blossom was still in rough shape, it was a relief for her to be surrounded by love in her new home. Her mom showered her with care and affection.
Once the test results were in, May was relieved to discover that Blossom did not have scabies or mange. The veterinary team concluded she was suffering from allergies.
Blossom began a course of medication, and her mom started giving her medicated baths to aid her recovery. Slowly but surely, her skin began to heal and regain its softness.
After a month, some of her fur started to regrow, although she remained largely bald. Her forever family hoped that once her other health issues were resolved, her allergies would also diminish.
The Mystery of Her Past
There was little information about Blossom’s breed or her past life.
Her family believed that she must have once had fur, but they were uncertain if it would ever grow back due to the condition of her skin.
“…We believe she’s primarily Chihuahua. However, given her longer hair, it’s possible she could have some hairless breed or even be mixed with a terrier or Maltese,” May mentioned.
Regardless of her breed or past, her family prioritized Blossom’s health and happiness. They cherished her endlessly, with the aim of making her the most joyous dog.
Enjoying Her Best Life
Enveloped in love, Blossom began to heal. Though she continues to manage her allergies, she does so with more ease now. The adorable pup enjoys medicated baths twice a week.
Now, Blossom is living her best life in San Diego, California. Her family adores her so much.
She has her own Instagram account, delighting her followers with daily updates and entertaining clips.
Blossom loves to wear adorable outfits and in her leisure time, she enjoys cuddling with her family and stealing their socks.
